2023 DHS GP Prelim P2 - Answer Scheme

1 DHS GP 2023 PRELIM PAPER 2 (Topic: Minimalism vs Cluttercore) Suggested Answer Key and Mark Scheme From Passage 1 1. [a] In paragraph 1, what are two reasons given to explain why Sonrisa Andersen ’s mother was a hoarder? Use your own words as far as possible. [2] From the text Suggested paraphrase It might conceivably have been the lost marriage she was dealing with, or more evidently a habit that had spiralled out of control as her mother ’s dependence on drugs and alcohol intensified. (l.2-4) A. The two reasons are (i) the divorce (that caused Andersen’s mother to be sad) and (ii) her increasing addiction to controlled substances and spirits (drugs and alcohol) [Part (i) and (ii) each for 1m, total 2m] 1. [b] Which reason does the author see as the bigger contributor to her (the mother’s) hoarding, and how do you know this? [1] From the text Suggested paraphrase Textual clues: The two reasons are marked by “might conceivably”, “or more evidently”. The stronger reason is marked by “more evidently” and “spiralled out of control”. B(i) The author sees Andersen ’s mother’s addiction/ use of controlled substances and spirits as the bigger contributor. (Accept “drugs and alcohol”/Accept if students say the addiction was the bigger contributor.) AND B(ii) This is because her hoarding behaviour / pattern became more obvious / unmanageable/ worse as her addiction worsened. Or The author used terms like “more evidently ” (to suggest his certainty that drugs led to her behaviour). [Both b(i) and b(ii) for 1m] 2. Explain the author ’s use of the phrase ‘struck gold’ (line 9) to describe what Sonrisa Andersen found online. Use your own words as far as possible. [1] From the text Suggested paraphrase She went online for a solution and struck gold. The search turned up blogs about “minimalism”: a lifestyle of living with less and being happy with what you already own. The minimalist bloggers were men and women who, like her, had an epiphany that came from a personal crisis of consumerism. Buying more had failed to make them happier. (l.8-11) Textual clues: Paraphrasing ‘struck gold’ A (i) The phrase ‘struck gold’ tells us that Sonrisa Andersen was successful in her search for an answer. OR (ii) found something very valuable / useful.

2 - her search found explanations about minimalism as a lifestyle that was pertinent to her. - “like her” and “epiphany” mark the realisation that Andersen had. Explanation (context) B. She came to the realisation/learnt that possessing too many things does not lead to contentment. [A and B for 1m] 3. From paragraph 3, explain how the author uses two examples to support his view that ‘most of us do not need as much as we have’ (line 17). [2] From the text Suggested answer The average American household possesses more than 300,000 items, which are mostly tucked away in attics, basements or other forgot